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Afrah Mediterranean Restaurant & Pastries
Categories: Restaurants Mediterranean Restaurants Middle Eastern Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
314 E Main StRichardson, TX 75081
(972) 234-9898
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10 am - 12 am
Fri 10 am - 1 am
Sat 9 am - 1 am
Sun 9 am - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
90 reviews for Afrah Mediterranean Restaurant & Pastries
Review Highlights
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"The pita bread is the puffy kind and very addicting." In 15 reviews -
"don't forget to grab some baklava to go." In 25 reviews -
"I especially enjoyed the kibbe and falafel." In 20 reviews
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90 reviews in English
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Review from Joan C.
Dallas, TX
4/23/2012
I've eaten at Afrah many, many times and I am rarely disappointed. Their pita bread is the best in the known universe. (Honest!) I always take out-of-town visitors up to Afrah, and they're blown away by how good everything is. Even folks who haven't had Mediterranean food before are converts by the time the meal is over.
I've had most of the kebab plates, the appetizer sampler, the akawi and meat pies (kind of like pizzas on pita bread, but without sauce), and of course their wonderful cookies. My particular favorite is the chicken shawarma plate with hummus and baba ghanoush. I'm a garlic lover, and I agree the accompanying garlic sauce is pungent. And heavenly.
You know you're in the presence of good, authentic ethnic food when you look around and see members of that ethnic group are the majority of customers. You'll see that at Afrah every night. And during Ramadan, Afrah opens late - and is mobbed at sundown. But don't feel like you're intruding on somebody else's party - this great food is for everybody to share.Comment from Ayad E. of Afrah Mediterranean Restaurant & Pastries 4/23/2012
Happy you enjoy yourself at Afrah! Thanks for taking the… More » -
Review from Paul H.
5/25/2012
Busy standalone restaurant off Main Street in Richardson. Review reflects the lunch buffet only; didn't order off the menu, or try any desserts.
Must say that I'm surprised at the quality given other reviews, as I found it just OK as far as Mediterranean food goes. Nothing really terrible, just nothing that stood out as excellent. Good selection of salads, sides and vegetarian/vegan options but they did have trouble keeping the entrees and bread supplied for the lunch crowd. Authentic but unspecific to any culture or regional specialty, place seemed stocked with native Mediterranean customers but the food seemed a bit generic. Rather disappointed they didn't have iced tea.
Seating is packed in tight, as is parking -- nearly blocked in by someone parked behind me. Good value for the money but better options are available for the cuisine.Comment from Ayad E. of Afrah Mediterranean Restaurant & Pastries 5/25/2012
Our seating and parking is packed....which has led us to the… More » -
Review from Jim Z.
San Antonio, TX
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Best vegan food in north Dallas. I know, I know, this is not a vegan restaurant, but I eat vegan and I find a larger spread of healthy, fresh and delicious vegan food here than anywhere else in Dallas.
So I will eat there every time I am in Dallas. While I was in Dallas, I ate there every weekday for the lunch special. Everyday. And I am not kidding. IT IS THAT GOOD.Comment from Ayad E. of Afrah Mediterranean Restaurant & Pastries 3/8/2012
Thanks for taking the time to give such a kind review Jim… More » -
Review from Golnaz P.
I used to think that delicious and cheap would never go together. I was wrong. Afrah's is where you go if you want to see this happen. The food tastes great and the prices are dirt cheap for what you are getting. I had the lamb kabob and was blown away. If I ever come back to Dallas, I will be stopping here again. It is a no frill, good home cooking, friendly place. Can't beat it.
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Review from Yin L.
2/26/2012
Stepped in with high hopes, stepped out feeling a little cheated.....You see, if you drive an hour away from home just for food, it better be worth it!
We ordered a mixed grill plate that came with the kafta kebab and lamb kebab. The meat was flavored well but it was a little bit on the tough and chewy side. Imagine having to chew and chew till your jaw gets tired. That's what the lamb kebab felt like.
I also had the chicken shwarma wrap. They definitely don't skim on the chicken so you get your bucks worth! The wrap was just alright. Garlic sauce was a bit too pungent, chicken was kinda flavorless, fries inside were good. Overall, not impressed!
Falafel on the other hand was awesome! I am sure the falafel wrap would have been a better bet than the chicken shwarma wrap.
Greek Salad turned out really great too! Nice, light and citrusy dressing with some fresh lettuce and feta cheese. Mmmmm
Andd to complete our meal, we had the pistacho baklava. Love all the bits of pistachos as well as the flaky dough. The baklava wasn't too sticky to the point you feel like you are eating glue.
Great place, but the main entrees really did not do it for us! Definitely not worth the weekend drive! -
Review from Tina L.
2/3/2012 2 photos
Been here a handful of times for the lunch buffet, and will continue to come back here. The food is fresh and they have a great selection of meats, salads, and sides including a couple of vegetarian options. The kafta kabab, chicken kabab, potatoes, pita, hummus, baba ghanoush, fish, and vermicelli rice all taste fantastic. It's so easy for me to over eat here because the food is so good. I have to be really disciplined and limit myself.
After your meal, make sure to try out their homemade gelato and various pastries. This is not included in the buffet. What is included for dessert is various fruit, chocolate mousse, and orange cream jelly. I'm a pistachio freak so I always end up getting pistachio gelato and/or pistachio baklava. There's a wide variety of gelato flavors. If you are unsure of what to get, just ask for a sample.
By the way, I heard Guy Fieri paid a visit here and will air in one of his upcoming episodes of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. -
Review from Niki W.
Updated - 2/12/2012
I already had to come back. I dream about the deliciousness that is Afrah. I crave the creamy smoothness of the hummus. I fantasize about the dolmas and the falafel. I have visions of - not sugarplums - but pita bread and Greek salad dancing in my head.
De Debil, my usual luncheon patnah, came out again, because he too loves this joint. I want to eat there again. Right now! :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/25/2012
De Debil and I went here for the lunch buffet yesterday, and I will say that this is the freshest,… Read more »
Comment from Ayad E. of Afrah Mediterranean Restaurant & Pastries 1/29/2012
You are so kind Niki! There is a significant amount of work… More » -
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Review from Pukar R.
Dallas, TX
Updated - 2/20/2012
Appetizer: Falafel basket: 6 big fried balls of falafel, came with the yogurt dipping sacue (anyone know what that is called?) Definitely an awesome item on the menu, and beware, they are quite filling!
Gyro: I'm not a huge fan of gyro's but I figured that everything I've tried on the menu/buffet has been amazing so I decided to give this a go. And I definitely don't regret it, it is simply one of the best gyro's I've ever had! I usually find the taste/seasoning of the meat in gyros to be too strong/pungent but this was perfection!
Lentil soup: excellent dish, very thick bowl of lentil that is perfectly spiced to bring out the flavor without masking the natural taste of the lentil.
Lamb shish kabab: WAY too strong of a smell, took one bite and to be honest, I wanted to spit it out so badly but people were watching, perhaps it was because my eyes were bugged out and I had a bitter beer face going, whatever the reason, I had to man up and swallow that chunk of pungent meat (that doesn't sound right...).
Pistachio baklava: a nice chunk of gooey, flaky, dry, moist, sweet, HEAVEN!
Brown kanabi: this was a very unique dessert item, it had sweet cheese on the bottom with a square bread-like (pound cake-ish) piece on top with pistachio crumbs that came with a side of syrup. Totally reminiscent of a pancake but tastes nothing like it. It was not overwhelmingly sweet which I tend to like. A great dessert choice!
One thing that kind if irritated me about this visit was that I asked for more of the aforementioned "yogurt sauce" that came with the falafel appetizer, the waitress brings out something completely different (yogurt dipping sauce = white, mystery sauce = creme colored). I told her this wasn't the same sauce; she then begins to convince me that it was, it was CLEARLY the WRONG color, thicker texture, and it TASTED different!!!! I mean WTF, whatever though, I didn't feel like arguing and took a percent or two off the tip (rightly so, no?). BTW she charged me $00.50 for the sauce LOL. Note to self: do not sit at her section (took mental pic of ugly waitress), 2nd note to self: if happen to sit at her section by mistake, move to different section. That is all.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/8/2012
We went here for the lunch buffet and it was fairly busy. The food smelled great from the parking… Read more »
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Review from Shannon G.
Fort Worth, TX
4/3/2012
I don't know if I was just super hungry or what but this place was just exceptionally delicious! The place was bumpin' (they had even set up tables in the parking lot!) and I think that added alot to the experience, sitting on the patio and smelling all the shisha smoke wafting about. The falafel were great, the gyro was great, the hummus and baba ghanoush was great, and the pita bread was -wait for it- great! We kinda filled up on falafel so I had alot of food to take home which tasted even better the next day ! What was most interesting was the dessert we had- something I'd never seen at any mediteranean place I've eaten at before- the kanafeh. Melty cheese with phyllo dough crumbles and a sweet syrup on top? Yes please! Might sound kinda strange if you've never heard of it before but it's quite tasty!
Comment from Ayad E. of Afrah Mediterranean Restaurant & Pastries 4/12/2012
Thanks for taking the time to share Shannon! You really… More » -
Review from Keith M.
Dallas, TX
1/26/2012
Wow.
I honestly thought about ending my review there, but then I realized that I wouldn't be doing this place the justice it so deserves. Afrah is amazing.
I was a firm believer that you'll never get the best out of a restaurant that's centered around a buffet. I can now say that statement is completely wrong. Afrah's buffet is a thing of beauty. The food is phenomenal. I tried just about everything offered on the buffett and I finished every plate, every time. My goodness....this stuff is so delicious.
I left in a food coma, and I wanted to shove more into my stomach. Go to Afrah starving and leave full and happy.Comment from Ayad E. of Afrah Mediterranean Restaurant & Pastries 1/29/2012
Keith, thanks for taking the time to write the above! I will… More » -
Review from Amey K.
North Dallas, Dallas, TX
3/2/2012
My wife and I went there on a Saturday. I thought they had lunch buffet's on weekends but they don't. My wife ordered Chicken skewers - they were succulent, moist and tender. They were cooked to perfection. The flavors were truly awesome. I ordered Markouk Shawarma - which was tasty and delicious except that it had a lot of oil dripping in my plate when I picked it up to eat.
Will go there again. Like the food.Comment from Ayad E. of Afrah Mediterranean Restaurant & Pastries 3/8/2012
Amey, apologize that you were expecting our lunch buffet on… More » -
Review from Sarah S.
Richardson, TX
5/11/2012
This place has great food. We've been there a couple of times and everything was pretty good. This last time we went the waitress was beyond horrible. Everyone else at the table got their food. It took them a 45mins after they got theirs and a coule of times asking where my food was for them to bring it. And the waitress said it was on a seperate ticket.. well I'm sorry its all on the same ticket were all at the same table why lie and make an excuse. Then after they bring me it. Its wrong. I'm sure they thought I was crazy.. but if they took that long for them to bring it. And everyone else has their food and already finished. I had a right. I'm sure I was wrong for calling her illiterate but.. hey you couldn't write it down correctly and no refill I'm sure she was fairly new. But the food was great and the manager was truly sorry that she was dumb. And got the meal for free.. we will be going back but wont sit where she is waiting at!
Comment from Ayad E. of Afrah Mediterranean Restaurant & Pastries 5/12/2012
Sarah, happy that you brought this to my attention while you… More » -
Review from Wayne R.
Decatur, GA
12/10/2011
The lunch buffet, weekdays only, can make you fat!
Very good food bargain; I've gone twice when in town. -
Review from Daniel K.
Allen, TX
9/24/2011
Excellent food, nice quiet place. The dinner is better than the lunch buffet IMO but maybe it's my own fault I eat too much and leave overstuffed.
The dinner portions are JUST right. We had the chicken sharma? Everything was cooked perfectly, enjoyed the eggplant, hummus, and salad very much. Mediterranean food is freaking healthy. Ended nicely with a cup of gelato. I had the mango gelato.
It's not the cheapest place but if you have an entertainment book, use the buy one get one free card and you have yourself a deal.
Great place to eat, enjoy an evening with friends or family. -
Review from Allison M.
Dallas, TX
12/9/2011
Afrah is worth the hike to Richardson (from our neighborhood anyway). The restaurant is not white table cloth (in fact, it feels like it might be an old Braum's???) but the food is definitely high quality.
The pita is to die, huge fluffy pieces that are just the right consistency. We also ordered hummus to share between four people - perfect amount.
Husband and I split the falafal plate and were very pleased. The spice in the falafal was so good and the vermicelli rice was tasty also. I would recommend sharing plates, the portions are very large... but if not, you'll have leftovers that you'll WANT to eat!
I say: get thee to Afrah! -
Review from Lauren H.
Richardson, TX
12/11/2011
I just polished off my leftovers from our trip last night to Afrah. I have to say, they might have been even better reheated.
Afrah has been on my radar for a while and we finally made our way the three minutes away to try it last night. I wasn't sure what to expect and was kind of expecting the yelper's disappointment (how can something with so many rave reviews be so godawful?), but it was DELICIOUS.
We started with stuffed grape leaves, which were warm and soft and delicious. He had grilled chicken and I had the chicken shawarma-- both were very good and I like the pickles and whatever this pink-pickled-situation they have going on mixed in with the chicken. Fattoush was some of the freshest I've ever tasted and baba ghannouj kicked ass. I thought it was pretty mild and creamy; not too tart as another reviewer pointed out. My fiance got fries and reported they were Ore-Ida, but that's not unexpected at a Mediterranean food restaurant.
Guy Fieri evidently ate here about a month ago and it's going to be on his show (Guy Eats America or something?) so we got free baklava delivered to the table. Baklava generally makes me want to barf, but this stuff was legit. Perhaps too legit to quit. If you love that crispy honey taste, you shouldn't skip it. And right now it's free!!
One note-- I wouldn't go here on a date. Not because the ambiance is off, but because after gorging myself on delicious puffy pita (did I mention the best ever?) and spicy garlic sauce, I cannot rid myself of the worst breath of all time. Thank god I've already locked it down. We'll be back! -
Review from Kandace W.
Dallas, TX
2/9/2012
I love this place. I always see a crowd there but still get swift service. I LOVE the gyro with extra cucumber sauce and mango and strawberry gelato for dessert. I wish I could try something else but haven't yet. (it's been over a year!). If I worked closer, I would try the buffet.
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Review from Ryan H.
Dallas, TX
2/24/2012
Unbelievable Mediterranean buffet for lunch. A dream come true. I wish there was a location near my place downtown!
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Review from Bruce C.
8/15/2011
We have a passbook coupon for Afrah and we walk in and ask for a table for two and the hostess says, "we're about to start our dinner buffet at 8, so it'll be crowded."
"okay, um. do we have to get the buffet?"
"No, but it will be crowded."
"Okay, we'll just have a table for two then."
What we didn't realize was she wasn't kidding. Come 8:00, every table and every buffet tray was being filled. Some kid was sitting there for 30 minutes waiting for the buffet to start.
So we sat down and the menu is alright. Our coupon is buy one, get one Falafel sandwiches, so we order two (for $4.99 each) and a gyro sandwich as well (also $4.99). It takes them longer than I expect to get us our food but the Falafel is quite tasty and a decent portion. I got the gyro thinking I'd need a little more to eat, but I was wrong.
For the price, the food was good. I'd go back again just for the Falafel (how may times can I type Falafel? I've already avoided typing it 3 times). The bakery treats and the gelato all looked delicious, the wife bought one cookie but I didn't save room for dessert, which I should have. Baklava is my fav.
The wait staff is a little lackluster, but it's no big deal. We got out of there just as the buffet started and it was like Walmart on Black Friday.
The food is good and they Afrah lot of choices too! -
Review from Monaism K.
Dallas, TX
1/16/2012
Went there to their lunch buffet. Plenty of options for vegetarians and okay quality, but nothing really stood out...
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Review from Twinwillow T.
Dallas, TX
8/27/2011
For lunch, two of us shared the large Afrah sampler for two and a fatoush salad. Everything was fresh and most delicious. I especially enjoyed the kibbe and falafel. The two different yogurt sauces served were the perfect foil for the fried kibbe and falafel. The huge puffed pita (2 pieces) was very hot and very useful as a tool for scooping the delicious hummus and baba ganoush.
For dessert we enjoyed "Arabic" coffee and a couple of pistachio cookies.
Next time there, I'm having dessert, first!
Including a 20% tip, the whole meal came to $18.00 each. Well worth it! -
Review from Olie P.
Richardson, TX
8/11/2011 3 photos
I love Afrahs! I think their lunch buffet is spot on with selection and quality. While expensive for lunch ($9.99), IMO it's totally worth it. The buffet offers a ton of veg options that's quite delicious at that.
I have ordered to go as well and the portions are huge! I ordered a chicken shwarma for my husband and I. It was more than enough for both of us. Perfect all around. -
Review from Angie N.
Richardson, TX
8/5/2011
Went to the lunch buffet with my mom today - first time. It was very good. I ate too much & got too much food that I didn't eat (I felt bad about that).
Things I loved: had a buy one get one free coupon; tabbouleah :), baba ganoush, potatoes with cumin & coriander.
I was disappointed in the falafel & lentil soup. Other than that I really liked it & will definitely go back. -
Review from Galina L.
Richardson, TX
11/13/2011
Love Mediterranean food to both eat and cook. Visited Affrah about a dozen times, enjoyed the food and people a great deal each time. Prefer regular menu to the buffet (buffet food is great, I think it is just a personal preference) But I would really like to highlight is their bakery and gelato bar - absolutely superb so cool to have close to home. It didn't occur to me until recently to just swing by in PJs and all to buy a few cookies and slice of cake. Now I think of them as a restaurant and as a bakery.
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Review from Minjoo K.
1/15/2011
I've only been here once, and I don't know why because their baklava is the best I've had (pistachio)
I had their falafel which wasn't bad.
The place is run down, but if the food is good, who cares?
I need to go again ... -
Review from Kellie S.
Garland, TX
Now that I've tried a few other similar restaurants, I can truly say that I am fan of Afrah. When I am on the go and in the Richardson area, I always call ahead and place an order for a LAMB SHISH KABAB SANDWICH. The sandwich is only $4.99 and it comes with lean and tender fillets of lamb which is grilled and rolled with their hummus, some tomatoes, parsley, onions and pickles. I always order extra pickles. They're just so good! They always tell me that it'll be ready in 15 minutes but it is always ready when I pull up.
Since my last review, I have also tried their lunch buffet and it does not dissappoint. I love the fattoush salad because of all the crunchy bits of veggies and crispy pita bread that they top it with. Another favorite of mine from the buffet line is the zatar pie with its yummy oregano, sesame seeds and olive oil. I've taken friends here for lunch and turned them into fans as well.
My only complaint is that their bathrooms are not as clean and smells horrible. I hate public bathrooms and their bathroom is a prime example of why I hate them. One star taken away for yucky bathroom.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/13/2010
I ordered the beef shawarma and hummus from the appetizer menu to go and had my hubby pick it up. My… Read more »
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Review from Kate A.
Richardson, TX
3/5/2012
The food was delicious but the service was slow. The waitress said she had just started so maybe that was the problem. If you go definitely get the bakalava!
Comment from Ayad E. of Afrah Mediterranean Restaurant & Pastries 3/8/2012
Kate, thanks for the feedback! Next time you come in, please… More » -
Review from Brooke G.
Dallas, TX
10/18/2010
A bud turned me on to this place and I will happily go back again and again. We sat there for hours chatting it up and the waitstaff didn't blink an eye. Actually, we sat there so long we eventually ordered some of their fabulous gelato to boot. While it's not the best Mediterranean I've ever eaten, for the price, it's a great deal and pretty darn good.
Since I've been here a couple of times, I've tried a couple of things:
The Afrah sampler for two, which includes: hummus, baba ghannouj, fried kibbe, falafel, and grape leaves. The hummus was tart and tasty, while the falafel and kibbe were a little bit dry. I've also had beef kabab, which was flavorful but also a little dry.
On another occasion, I grabbed the beef and hummus combo, which was quite tasty and extraordinarily satisfying (and a lot less dry on that day). One of the best things I love about this place is their fresh and tasty pita bread, which is gigantic and steamy fresh when they bring it to your table.
For dessert, I tried the rose water/pistachio gelato, which was out of this world. If you've ever tried "Turkish delight," this is essentially the gelato version of that, but so much better! -
Review from Niki S.
Murphy, TX
Updated - 10/2/2011
Went back to Affrah with my family last night and it was even better than I remembered. There were seven of us dining together so we chose the Family Feast where everything is served family style.
First came out bowls of baba ganoush and hummus with fresh hot pita bread and salad. I could make a meal just out of the hummus and bread- it's creamy and flavorful and so good spread on warm bread. The salad was really good too, a mix of greens with cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes and a light fresh vinaigrette.
The main course was a gigantic platter piled with chicken and beef kabobs and sirloin kafta skewers garnished with pickles. A platter of basmati rice along with yogurt and garlic sauce were also brought out. The chicken and beef kabobs had big chunks of seasoned meat and grilled tomatoes and onions. The meat was tender and flavorful. The sirloin kafta skewers had a great mix of spices and were delicious with a little yogurt sauce.
We had tons of food left over- the meal would have easily fed another four people. After dinner most of our party had a gelato- I love the Arabic flavor. It's not super sweet and has a little bit of spice to it that you wouldn't expect.
The service was excellent. Our server kept our drinks full and was friendly without being intrusive.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/27/2011
Decided to try out Affrah after seeing all the great reviews and I was not disappointed. My mom and… Read more »
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Review from Mr A.
Dallas, TX
8/27/2011
I have never made the lunch/ramadan buffet but i have had dinner here 4 or 5 times. The restaurant is very casual, but service is friendly and prices are very reasonable. Hummus and fresh baked pita bread is great in my opinion. Hummus is smooth with plenty of oil. I usually eat a beef pita sandwich of one sort or another, and wife usually eats falafel plate or pita. I believe all the aforementioned are prices at $4.95 each. While this isnt necessarily a convenient restaurant for me to get to, I still go because of the great food and great prices.
additionally, they have some great cookies if you need something a little sweet to top off the meal -
Review from Aisha C.
Sterling, VA
11/13/2011
its a great casual restaurant to hang out with your family. everything on their menu taste fairly good. they have great selection of desserts and gelato icecream and not to mention great hot mint tea! I like the atmosphere and the fact that its open till late at night! so if you are hungry and you want to eat something healthy and satisfying this is a place to go!
However im not happy with the amount of gratuity they charge without asking! last time they even charged us for water which i thought was very unreasonable. next time ill make sure that i check my bill before i pay them. -
Review from Nadeem A.
3/3/2009
We went out with friends.
They like Afrah.
We like our friends.
So, we went to Afrah.
The food was bad.
But, they are still our friends.
The End.
The wife's beef shawarma was dried out and gristly. My lamb kafta skewer was dry. The pita and garlic sauce were good, but unfortunately, you can't make a meal out of pita and sauce. Perhaps Afrah is better known for the pastries or hookah, but Fadi's and Ali Baba's are much better for the food. -
Review from Una H.
5/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
I may have committed sin by not eating any baklava or dessert but I was rather full from my meal. Stop your judging.
We decided to sit out on the patio for our meal which was empty when we got there, but filled up and had a lively crowd by the end of dinner. Lots of folks there to smoke hookah and nosh.
We started off with some hummus which wasn't exactly my favorite. It had a bit of a chalky texture. I've had it way smoother and with more flavor at other restaurants so I found it a bit disappointing. The pita bread it was served with was ok, I liked how it came out to the table big and puffy!
For my entree I got a combo shawarma platter with fattoush salad and rice. Ehhh. I dunno. I really have mixed feelings about the whole thing. Both chicken and beef were on the dry side. My platter came with 2 yogurt type sauces. 1 was thick like greek yogurt (looks like school paste) and 1 was thin and runny(I think it was the tahini). Looking at the other two plates at the table I deduced that the thick one was for chicken and the runny one was for the beef. (Chicken shawarma plate came with only thick, see there? Deductive reasoning) Even if that was the intention, I think I liked them opposite how I was "supposed" to eat them.
The rice had this fragrant tinge of flavor I couldn't quite place. It was a tad off putting, but it wasn't horrible. It was just remarkably different, a hint of lemon, but this herbal....tinge.
The fattoush salad was quite good. The dressing it was tossed in was tangy and yet light and I liked the crispy pieces of pita in it. I ended up making little pita pocket sandwiches with some salad, meat and a little bit of sauce.
One of the guys ordered babaganouj which I wanted to try...but he's not really the sharing type. His plate included a kafta kabob....uh not going to lie, it resembled a log of poo. He said it was good but visually was not appealing to me at all.
I'd be interested in coming back to try the buffet, but I'd really like one of these damn coupons everyone else mentioned! Hook a sister up would ya? -
Review from Cristy P.
Updated - 12/21/2009
D and I went back for the lunch buffet.
OH. MAH. GAWD.
Amazing. Simply amazing. With the lurverly coupons that come in the Entertainment passbook, we ate like piggies for $10. The vegetarian options were fantastic. There was hummus, baba ganoush, pita, fatoush salad, tabouleh, coriander Greek salad (!), and the sauce to rule them all- Afrah's own creamy garlic sauce. Oh and there's chicken and kebabs for you animals eaters. It seriously couldn't get any better unless they had free baklava and gelato but that shiz is hard to make so I totally get why they charge. I tried their Arabic gelato (rosewater, pistacio) and my mouth is having taste flashbacks days later. I could live next door to Afrah and spend my savings eating their everyyyyy day. Hey, a girl can dream, right?Listed in: I'm a Veggie-care-ian!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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4/11/2009
Another passbook success!
Roomie and I had the falafel sandwich and chicken schwarma sandwich with a… Read more »
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Review from frater m.
Richardson, TX
12/22/2009
Ambience: cozy space that used to be a Braum's when I lived in Richardson in the 90s.
Clientele: quiet Middle Eastern families.
Food: Beautiful buffet. Maybe just because I was the first one there for lunch, but the presentation was really lovely. Someone took a great deal of care.
Vegetable dishes were very good; meat dishes were meh. If meat was as good as the veggie stuff they would be 5star in my book.
Had a mango gelato; yummy.
Drink: I drank water.
Staff: lovely and pleasant countergirl was friendly and helpful throughout.
wifi: didn't check
bathroom: didn't check
Value: meh. I think the buffet was $10, which is more than I like to spend on lunch. I'd be perfectly happy at $8, and ecstatic at $7.
Neighborhood sketch factor: Fine. Just across from the the Richardson PD, actually.
30.06 status: not posted. -
Review from Stephen W.
Dallas, TX
8/28/2010
I had a coupon so the wife and I decided to try this place for lunch. What an excellent choice--I think this wonderful little restaurant has shot to near the top of our list for cheap eats with flavor and value.
After we ordered, it took a while to get our food, but when it arrived we understood why. They made fresh pita bread to go with our wonderful hummus with ground beef. The bread was warm and the hummus was excellent.
After the appetizer, I was already full, but then I had one of the best falafel I have had in my life. The falafel balls were done perfectly and had a very nice spicy flavor. The taste combination of tomatoes, pickled something, pickles, sauce, and lettuce was just perfect. And it was huge!
The wife got a grilled lamb pita sandwich which was also very good. We both agreed that next time we would get the hummus with ground beef and split a pita sandwich.
We topped off our feast with gelato. It was just wonderful. We were stuffed but the day was hot so it hit the spot.
I can't wait to return to this restaurant! I give it 4 stars because it is a modest place, almost a diners, drive-ins, and dives. But the food is 5 star and the value is excellent. -
Review from dean d.
Dallas, TX
10/30/2010
Stopped here for lunch recently and initially I was surprised and disappointed they had gone buffet for lunch.
But a quick tour of the offerings was good enough to get me to pick up a plate and dive in. First thing you should know: come hungry or bring friends because by the time you get a little of everything you will have three plates full of food.
They have all the regular items for Mideast cuisine: hummus, tabouli, babaganoush, fatoush salad, falafel, grilled meats, soups, rice and more. They also have old-world classics like stuffed squash, okra in tomato, kofta, marinated eggplant, green bean tomato stew, zaatar pie, and so much more. They put just enough out so it never gets old and there is a constant stream of kitchen staff replenishing everything all the time.
And when you are done, go check out the pastries, baklava, and homemade sweet ice creams for dessert.
This is a very nice buffet. Well executed at my visit. Note: not cheap, but if you know about real food prep, you know that already. -
Review from Tobias J.
Denton, TX
9/11/2008
Very tasty middle eastern food. Patio has a nice ambiance, plus there's hookah! Solid price considering it's quality buffet, but a little on the high range for a short meal.
If you like Al-Amir (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) then you'll probably like this. -
Review from David C.
Dallas, TX
8/6/2010
I'm always on the look out for AUTHENTIC foods from different cultures.
This place seems to hit the spot.
I didn't get a chance to get the buffet, but from the pictures, the food looks very authentic and tasty. There are a few ethnic customers inside so that tells you that this place is for real.
The baklava and other deserts are really what made me visit. They sell fresh baklava at a really reasonable price (by the pound).
I'm going to have to work extra hard at the gym to work those pounds off. -
Review from Kacie M.
3/31/2008
Loved it. I also tried the falafel pita, and it was excellent, very flavorful. The Turkish coffee was heavy on the cardamon, but if it's exotic flavor that you're looking for, it has it. My hubby tried some chicken kebab stuff, and it was all ok - the hummus was good, the pita warm, the chicken moist.
My favorite was the coconut gelato on the way out, and my husband loved the pistacio baklava (made by hand in their kitchen, they say).
Yum.
